Evanston librarian dies after being struck by motorcycle

Gigi Galich, 55, a librarian in Evanston, died a day after she was hit by a motorcycle while riding her bike to work.

Gigi Galich, 55, a librarian in Evanston, died a day after she was hit by a motorcycle while riding her bike to work. (Handout photo)

Brian CoxSpecial to the Tribune

An Evanston librarian who was struck by a motorcycle while biking to work has died of her injuries, officials said today.

Gigi Galich, 55, was on a bicycle in a designated bike lane about 9 a.m. Monday in the 600 block of Church Street, across from the main branch of the Evanston Public Library, when she crossed the street mid block and was struck by a motorcycle, Evanston police said.

Galich, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to Evanston Hospital with serious injuries, officials said. Galich, of the 1300 block of Ashland Avenue in Evanston, was pronounced dead at 4:13 p.m. Tuesday at Evanston Hospital, according to the Cook Couty medical exmainer's office.

The driver of the motorcycle, a 27-year-old resident of Chicago, was uninjured, authorities said.

"Gigi was energetic, dedicated and passionate. She will be greatly missed," Evanston City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz said in a statement released today. "Her work will live on through the many, many children who learned to love reading and coming to the library for books, crafts, stories and fun."

Galich started working at the Evanston library as a page in 1976, city officials said. Over the years Galich helped Evanston residents of all ages through her "enthusiastic and creative work" in the children’s services department at the main library, officials said.

Galich graduated with a master’s degree in library and information science and was promoted to the position of Librarian I in 2013, officials said.